Inadvertently shipped to the U.S. in the 1910s, the pesky Japanese beetles — Latin name Popillia japonica — are known for emerald heads, golden-brown wing covers and an appetite for soybean leaves. A cottage industry of insecticides ​has sprung up to curb them.

Up until a few months ago, the little green scarabs and other insects with the voracious eating habits were among the bigger variables for those who make a living growing soybeans.

But then came tariffs.

In a truly "Twilight Zone" moment, farmers have found themselves somehow caught in the crossfire of a complex international trade war with the Chinese.

The reason: Many of those shrubby plants you drive past here are actually producing beans bound for Asia, especially China, the largest and most lucrative ​soybean market on earth. Statewide, exports total $3 billion annually.

President Donald Trump has had a beef with China all along, for reasons that make sense. Certainly American jobs are hampered by unfair labor practices. And our U.S. companies are being hammered by cheap steel and stolen technology. We have taken a beating for too long.

But when the administration slapped tariffs on billions of dollars of Chinese goods to send a message, the Chinese retaliated by putting a 25 percent tariff on U.S. soybeans, among many other goods. Many, many areas of commerce are wrapped up in this, but for Central Illinois, soybeans are overwhelmingly the most important. The leafy legume are the lifeblood of the economy. Instability makes us nervous.

Trump offered $12 billion in emergency relief, and the president found new places in the European Union for American-grown soybeans. The problem is, this a short-term approach.

Soybeans have been on the international trade stage before. President Richard Nixon put an embargo on soybeans in place in response to a shortage. President Jimmy Carter forbid certain grain exports to Russia after the country invaded Afghanistan in 1980.

But the commodity market hates variables, and this tit-for-tat is a roller coaster, just as the harvest season is on the horizon.

Subscribe to Breaking News!

Get breaking news stories sent to you as the they develop!

I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site consitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy.

Will farmers have to store beans in a sagging market?

Will planting amounts be cut back?

We have no idea what the other side will do next or to what amount.

It is a trade war the farmers didn't need or want.

We're eager to return to the days when some very hungry Japanese beetles ​were our biggest concern. ​

Watch this discussion.Stop watching this discussion.

(0) comments

Welcome to the discussion.

Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd,
racist or sexually-oriented language.PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another
person will not be tolerated.Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone
or anything.Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism
that is degrading to another person.Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on
each comment to let us know of abusive posts.Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness
accounts, the history behind an article.